Campbell County students are getting an unexpected midweek day off on Wednesday, after local emergency crews warned that many of the county’s backroads are still too hazardous for buses and family vehicles. Frigid temperatures and stubborn patches of ice have left secondary roads and neighborhood turnarounds slick enough that officials decided it was safer to shut things down than risk a rough morning commute.
Local Officials Cite Hazardous Backroads
Crews have focused on keeping the main routes in the best shape possible, but plenty of side streets are still a problem, according to WLAF. The outlet reports that while primary roads have seen the bulk of the cleanup effort, many backroads and less-traveled areas remain icy and unsafe for school transportation.
WLAF also noted that earlier in the week, Campbell County had already logged several cancellations and postponements, including multiple high‑school events, as crews worked to keep the main thoroughfares usable in between rounds of refreezing.
Closure Posted By Volunteer Fire Service
The first word on Wednesday’s closure hit social media Tuesday evening, when the Campbell County Rural Fire Service posted the update on Facebook. Citing hazardous travel on backroads, the agency said classes would be canceled for Wednesday, according to Campbell County Rural Fire Service on Facebook. For families who rely on rural bus routes, that post served as an early heads-up to start adjusting work and childcare plans.
Weather Made Side Streets Especially Dangerous
Forecasters with the National Weather Service office in Morristown had posted winter and ice warnings across parts of East Tennessee, and the most shaded and secondary roads have been some of the slowest to recover, according to the NWS Morristown forecast page. With temperatures staying at or below freezing, trouble spots have been refreezing overnight and turning routine morning drives into something a lot more unpredictable.
Regional roundups of closures show Campbell County is not alone. Several districts across East Tennessee are taking a day‑by‑day approach as they navigate lingering ice and cold, per the Knoxville News Sentinel via Yahoo. The result is a patchwork of open, delayed, and fully closed systems that can change from one morning to the next.
Where To Get Updates
Families in Campbell County are encouraged to keep an eye on official district messages and local media for the latest on schedules and safety calls. The district’s central office contact information and notices are available at Campbell County Public Schools. Local agencies and school officials typically share next‑day decisions on the district website and social media channels as conditions evolve.
